Nicknamed “baby hi-cubes” by shippers, railfans, and rail employees alike, the PS-1 40’ “Mini-Hy Cube” boxcars were early examples of purpose-built boxcars, built by Pullman-Standard in Bessemer, AL. At 4900 cubic foot capacity without loading devices, most of these distinctively small yet tall cars were purchased for appliance loading out of origins in U.S. Midwestern states. Here is an example in Illinois Central paint just after delivery.

Five railroads – CBQ, DRGW, IC, MILW, and NP – initially bought these cars in 1967-1968, and they were sent to destinations all over North America delivering appliances to warehouse receivers and team tracks. Because some of the cars were pooled, any roadname could be consigned to literally any destination, making these cars “nationwide roamers,” meaning you can justify any roadname anywhere. Later in their service lives, most cars were repurposed for paper loading, and by the 1990s many remaining cars were utilized in MOW and other company service roles.

Now, all of these cars were pooled at least for the first ~10-15 years of service. This means that when they became empty, they were to be redirected to a specific point for re-assignment. These re-assignments were called “return routes” and these routes were stenciled on the side of the cars. Tangent has carefully researched the return routes, which is no easy task since photos of these cars are surprisingly rare. The return routes for each railroad’s cars are described in the car descriptions for each car by clicking the images at the right. But don’t get hung up on these routes – appliances were not market-specific – they ran freely where there were buyers of appliances. It is the loading location that was specific, but the appliances once loaded could go anywhere once loaded! For instance, if you are a BN modeler, one day you might see a DRGW car, the next day an IC. In other words, buy the cars you like!

ICG “1977 Repaint” w/Wide Letters in the classic orange from IC heritage, however this car is an ICG repaint with “wide” lettering applied by Centralia (IL) shops in 1977. These IC repaints include yellow boxes with “this car excess height” notation, double COTS box, and “Return to ICGRR…” return route stencils. Like the original IC cars delivered from Pullman-Standard in 1967, these cars retain the “Cushion Underframe” and “slash” lettering in the upper left corner, as well as the “Service With Safety” slogans above the side ladders.

Features:

• Dimensional accuracy – designed from actual Pullman-Standard blueprints
  
• Highly correct “true to life” colors
  
• “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
  
• Kadee scale couplers
  
• “Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail
  
• Multiple road numbers for each scheme
  
• 2 different draft gear and trombone-style coupler lift bar variations
  
• Lacy details – wire grab irons, coupler lift bars, and stand-off ladders and stirrup steps
  
• “See through” crossover end platforms
  
• Separate air hoses
  
• CNC-machined 33” wheels in high quality Tangent Scale Models 70-ton Barber S-2-A Roller Bearing trucks (with semi-scale replacement wheels available separately) with separate brake hangar parts for extra realism
  
• Recommended age 14 years and older